Connecting Consumers with Service Providers

1. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising: receiving from a consumer, by a computer configured to connect consumers with providers of medical services, a search for a provider of medical services based on search criteria; generating by the computer an ordered list of providers that satisfy the search criteria, the order of providers being based on a provider rating of each provider included in the list; and receiving a selection of one of the providers from the consumer; establishing an engagement over the Internet between the consumer and the selected one of the providers to connect the consumer and the selected one of the providers in real time; subsequent to establishing the engagement between the consumer and the provider, requesting feedback from the consumer related to the engagement during a process for disconnecting the consumer from the provider; updating, by the computer, the provider rating based, at least in part, on the received feedback if the consumer provides feedback about the provider; and charging an additional amount if the consumer fails to provide feedback about the provider.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the provider rating in a provider profile for the provider.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the provider rating reflects the quality of the provider's interaction with multiple, different consumers.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the provider rating at the end of each interaction between the provider and a consumer.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a number of engagements of the provider over a period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a ratio of the number of return engagements to a total number of engagements for the provider.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing an evaluation of the service provider based at least in part on the consumer generated provider rating.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising prohibiting the service provider from entering into an engagement with a consumer if the provider rating is less than a threshold.

9. A computer-implemented method, the method comprising: receiving by a computer an enrollment request from a new service provider to participate as a probationary provider of services on a system that establishes real-time engagements over the Internet between consumers of medical services and providers of medical services; enrolling the probationary service provider as an eligible participate provider of services; and monitoring a provider rating of the probationary service provider during a probationary period after the probationary service provider begins to participate in the system.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising: receiving feedback from consumers related to engagements with the probationary service provider during the probationary period; generating a provider rating based, at least in part, on the received feedback.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , further comprising: establishing an engagement over the Internet between a consumer and a provider to connect consumers of medical services with providers of medical services in real time; subsequent to establishing the engagement between the consumer and the provider, receiving feedback from the consumer related to the engagement; and updating the provider rating based, at least in part, on the received feedback.

12. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, for executing instructions on a processor, the computer program product being operable to cause a machine to: receive a search for a provider of medical services based on search criteria; generate an ordered list of providers that satisfy the search criteria, the order being based on a provider rating of each provider included in the list; and receive a selection of one of the providers from the consumer; establish an engagement over the Internet between the consumer and the selected one of the providers to connect the consumer and the selected one of the providers in real time; subsequent to establishing the engagement between the consumer and the provider, request feedback from the consumer related to the engagement during a process for disconnecting the consumer from the provider; update the provider rating based, at least in part, on the received feedback if the consumer provides feedback about the provider; and charge an additional amount if the consumer fails to provide feedback about the provider.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the computer program product is further operable to cause a machine to perform an evaluation of the service provider based at least in part on the consumer generated provider rating.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the computer program product is further operable to cause a machine to prohibit the service provider from entering into an engagement with a consumer if the provider rating is less than a threshold.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the computer program product is further operable to cause a machine to receive an enrollment request from a new service provider for use of a system that establishes an engagement over the Internet between a consumer of medical services and a provider of medical services in real time; enroll the service provider for use of the system; and monitor a provider rating of the service provider during a probationary period after the service provider begins to use the system.